By 1 p.m. Thursday, 61,000 faithful paid homage to the body of Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica, according to Vatican figures. At the same time, it has been reported that 130 foreign delegations, 50 heads of state, and 10 kings have so far confirmed their presence in Rome for Saturday’s funeral.

Meanwhile, the preparation of the late pontiff’s tomb in Rome’s royal church dedicated to the Virgin has been completed. It is made of Italian marble from the Genoa region, on it is inscribed the pope’s name in Latin (Franciscus), and, as the only additional feature, a replica of the iron cross worn by “the pope of the poor” has been placed.

The tomb is located next to the Sanctuary of St. Francis of Assisi and a very short distance from the Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary with Jesus “Salus Populi Romani”, in front of which the late pontiff used to pray.

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After the funeral, a procession is to start from the Vatican, which, at a slow pace, will pass through the centre of Rome and arrive at the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, near Rome’s central railway station. At the church, waiting for the coffin will be homeless and poor citizens, whom the Argentine pope had tried to support as much as he could as head of the Roman Catholic Church and earlier when he was archbishop of Buenos Aires and cardinal.